Final pairings determined at the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup

Preliminary day 3 of 3
Championship and consolation matches to be played Sunday

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 14, 2012) –Preliminary play concluded today at the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup,determining final pairings for tomorrow’s championship and consolation matches. Region III and Region IV led the way, each sending six teams to championship games. Region I will have three teams vying for a championship and Region II one.

Recaps from today’s games:

Under-14 Boys
With a chance in the final determined by its result Saturday, Metuchen Rover Juniors (NJ) came from behind twice to beat group leader Georgia Mountain YMCA (GA), 3-2. After Fabian Abarca gave Georgia Mountain a lead in the 11th minute, Oluwatobi Oluwalana leveled for Metuchen just two minutes later. Abraca would strike again just after half to put Georgia Mountain back on top, but goals by Julian Korduba and Jason Kramer booked Metuchen a trip to the championship game and a rematch with Georgia Mountain. In the group’s other game, River City Soccer Club (WA) earned its first points on the week with a convincing 4-1 victory over Elkhart Flames Dynamite (IN). Austin Garitone led River City with two goals; Tyler Smith and Alex Faust also joined in on the scoring. Javier Vera scored the lone goal for Elkhart.

Under-14 Girls
NC Boca (CA-S) ended the week without a loss, as they beat St. Louis Scott Gallagher (MO), 2-0. First half goals by Amanda Oldham and Lexi Garcia led the way for NC Boca. NC Boca’s opponent on finals day will be JASA Coastal Surge (NC), who played to a 1-1 draw with LVU United 97 (E-PA). LVU took the lead in the 24th minute off a goal by Paige Jones. JASA Coastal Surge leveled in the 59th on an Isabella Nunu strike.

Under-15 Boys
FC Golden State White (CA-S) played its way into the championship match with a 2-1 victory over Kansas City SC Gold 96/97 (KS). Javier Jasso opened the scoring for FC Golden State in the 11th minute and Robert Hernandez doubled the lead in the 24th. Before half, Yaniv Gershom pulled one back for Kansas City SC. That score line held through the second stanza. TUFC Los Geurreros (S-TX) finished pool play on a positive note as they beat Rage Gunners 96 (E-PA) 4-0. Four different players for TUFC found the net, including Selvin Medrano, Alan Torres, Edgar Rodriguez and Carlos Pacas.

Under-15 Girls
Wildcard team Dallas Texans 97 (N-TX) beat Colorado United White (CO), 2-1 to advance to the championship game. After entering halftime down 1-0, Macy Brown and Macy Golman scored for Dallas Texans in the final ten minutes of the game for a dramatic victory. The National Presidents Cup championship match in this age group will be a rematch of the Region III final, as GUSA Navy (NC) advanced via a tie with FPYC Wildcats Blue (VA). GUSA goals by Morgan Sardinski and Allexis Taylor bookended a double by Jillian Barnard of FPYC.

Under-16 Boys
Both games Saturday in the U-16 Boys group ended in a 1-1 draw. After a scoreless first half between FC Porto of Kansas (KS) and LA Premier FC Black (CA-S), Christian Der Gregorian broke the stalemate in the 58th minute to give LA Premier the lead. Just before the final whistle, Thomas Anjard equalized for FC Porto of Kansas. For the third time in as many games, Crusaders United (MA) scored first, this time with Steven Kilday finding the net in the 36th minute. That lead would hold until the waning moments of the game, when United Strikers’ Oscar Gudiel would level the game and send his team to the final.

Under-16 Girls
Playing from the top of the pool standings, Houston Express 96 (S-TX) secured a spot in the championship game early in its game against Capital United Blue Fusion (E-NY). Two minutes after the opening whistle, Ellie Valega found the net for Houston Express. Their championship opponent will be Platinum FC Cleary (CA-S) who will be coming off a 2-2 draw with Central FC Select Strikers (WI). A double by Darian Molter for Central FC bookended goals by Stacie Moran and Peyton Nocciolo for Platinum FC.

Under-17 BoysWith a spot secured in the championship game, Brasil Coachella (CA-S) played to a 1-1 draw with Indiana Invaders Black (IN). After neither team scored in the first half, Jimmie Villalobos scored for Brasil in the 57th minute to claim the lead. With less than five minutes to play, David Giloth equalized for Invaders. The two teams will play again in the championship game. In the group’s other game, Texas United Westside (S-TX) beat FC Frederick 94 Royal (MD) 3-0. Hudson Hernando added a goal to David Carey’s double.

Under-17 Girls
Crusaders (MA) completed group play with three wins, as they took care of business against Miami Lakes SC (FL). Goals by Laura Nee and Madison Finlay led Crusaders to a 2-0 victory. Libertyville Premier Orange (IL) and Arsenal Colorado Royal (CO) met on Saturday to determine Crusader’s opponent in the championship game. Arsenal made the most of the opportunity as they won 3-0 on goals by Kait Eden, Jojo Poulson and Ashley Kulick.

Championship and consolation matches begin at 8 a.m. Sunday to cap off the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup.

The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is designed for those teams seeking additional challenges to play against teams of similar abilities for a national title. The cup provides a progressive, competitive experience to teams that might not otherwise get the opportunity to participate in a series of unique experiences highlighting competition, camaraderie and community from the state to regional to national levels of US Youth Soccer.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!?" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.

About the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup - The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is designed for those teams seeking additional challenges to play against teams of similar abilities for a national title. The cup provides a progressive, competitive experience to teams that might not otherwise get the opportunity to participate in a series of unique experiences highlighting competition, camaraderie and community from the state to regional to national levels of US Youth Soccer.